Syllabus

This course will survey the main topics in contemporary, analytic philosophy of religion. We will begin with arguments that attempt to prove the existence of God and then consider the attempts to disprove the existence of God through the so called “problem of evil.” We will consider the debates regarding the attributes of God and then turn to various philosophical problems that arise in revealed religions involving God’s relation to creation, such as whether there are miracles, immortality and resurrection, and how we can know God. The final sections of the course will look at contemporary challenges to revealed religions, including evolution, the existence of a competing belief systems, and the possibility of secular ethics. Although we will cover a lot of material, the course cannot consider all points of view. The goal is to deepen your understanding of some key philosophical debates within religious traditions based on revelation.

Participation: All students are expected to do the assigned reading before class, to attend regularly, and to make every effort to participate in class discussion. Please note that while students are encouraged to argue and disagree with each other and the instructor, they are expected to treat the views of others in the class with respect.

Debate & Project Notes: For each topic of the course we will stage a debate or some like-minded philosophical project the second half of one class session. Each student will be expected to contribute to these debates and projects through oral participation and through written preparation. At the end of each debate or project I will collect the notes of the participants. Students will be granted 10 points as a starting bonus. Thereafter the satisfactory completion of each set of notes will be worth 10 points, for a total of 100 points possible. A minimum of 60 points is required to pass this assignment.

Two short papers: Each student is required to write two short papers, three to four pages in length, on an assigned topic. The paper must, at minimum, present and critically discuss one or more arguments on the chosen topic. A good paper will have a thesis, which is explained and defended at length against the strongest objections possible. About two weeks before the paper is due I will hand out a set of questions from which you will choose your paper topic. The first paper is due at the beginning of class on Friday, June 30^th. The second paper is due at the beginning of class on Friday, July 14^th. Each paper is worth up to a total of 100 points. For each 24-hour period after the due date by which the paper is late, you will automatically lose 15 points from your final grade. The minimum passing grade for a paper is 53 points.

Final Exam: There will be a final exam during the last class period on Wednesday, July 19^th in our classroom. This will be a closed book exam. All material from the assigned readings as well as class lectures will be the subject of the exam. No make-up exams will be given except in documented cases of illness or death of a family member. Please bring a blue book. This exam will be worth 100 points of your final grade. The minimum passing grade for the exam is 53 points.

Please note that this is a guide to your grades and I reserve the right to adjust it.

Nota Bene: (1) Cheating in any form (including plagiarism, of course) will result in automatic referal to the Dean’s office. You are assumed to understand the university rules concerning inappropriate academic conduct. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the instructor.

The following book is required and is available for purchase at the University Bookstore:

All page numbers refer to the required text. Please note that that the instructor reserves the right to make changes to this schedule as he sees fit.

6/19 M Introduction

6/20 Tu Topic 1: Arguments for the Existence of God

[1a] Cosmological Argument (2-47)

6/21 W [1b] Teleological Argument (48-68)

6/22 Th [1c] Ontological Argument (69-86)

6/23 F [1d] Argument from Religious Experience (87-136)

6/26 M Topic 2: The Problem of Evil

[2a] Evil and Theodicy (137-151, 186-192)

[2b] Evil and Soul-Making (152-159)

6/27 Tu [2c] The Free Will Defense (167-185)

6/28 W Topic 3: The Attributes of God

[3a] Time and Eternity (207-230)

[3b] God’s Omniscience and Human Freedom (231-259)

6/29 Th [3c] God’s Omnipotence (250-256)

6/30 F Topic 4:: Miracles and Revelation [FIRST PAPER DUE]

[4a] Against Miracles (261-268, 276-282)

[4b] For Miracles (269-275, 283-302)

7/3 M NO CLASS – Holiday weekend

7/4 Tu NO CLASS – Independence Day

7/5 W Topic 5: Death and Immortality

[5a] Immorality: For and Against (310-316)

7/6 Th [5b] Resurrection and Reincarnation (317-336)

7/7 F Topic 6: Faith and Reason

[6a] Challenges to Faith (337-358)

[6b] Pragmatic Justification of Religious Belief (359-376)

[6c] Fideism (377-403)

7/10 M [6d] Rationality and Justified Religious Belief (404-446)

7/11 T Topic 7: Science, Religion, and Evolution

[7a] Evolution and Creation, Part 1 (447-474)

[7b] Evolution and Creation, Part 2 (475-496)

7/12 W Topic 8: Religious Pluralism

[8a] Pluralism (497-506)

[8b] Exclusivism (507-527)

7/13 Th [8c] Pluralism and Other Faiths (528-546)

7/14 F Topic 9: Religion and Ethics [SECOND PAPER DUE]

[9a] Does Morality depend on Religion? (547-568)

7/17 M [9b] Is Secular Morality Enough? (569-577)

7/18 T General Discussion and Review

7/19 W FINAL EXAM